The Killers fourth studio album – and their first in four years – ‘Battle Born’ is released today, following on from the album’s lead single ‘Runaways’ which was released last week.

Having sold over 15 million copies of their previous three albums – ‘Hot Fuss’, ‘Sam’s Town’ and ‘Day & Age’, followed by an 18 month world tour, in 2010 the band took some time off to pursue their own projects, before heading back to the studio together in April 2011 to start working on ‘Battle Born’.

The album combines elements of all three of The Killers' previous albums – the storytelling of ‘Hot Fuss’, the mythic Americana of ‘Sam’s Town’ and the pop nous of ‘Day & Age’. Drummer Ronnie Vannucci explained that this time, “we owed it to ourselves to do something that felt more like a personal blueprint for the band.”

Speaking about the album, Brandon Flowers said, “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, no question. It’s the longest we’ve ever taken to make a record, and the longest I’ve ever spent on the lyrics.” Flowers describes ‘Runaways’ as the “launching pad” for the rest of the album – whose highlights include the emotive ‘Here With Me’ and the stadium quaking electro rock of ‘Flesh & Bone’.

“I feel like there are a lot of live moments on this album, more than we’ve ever had before,” Flowers continues. “I feel like people are going to be able to relate to and understand these songs. Pound for pound, this is our strongest record, and I’m really excited about it. We’re starting to feel more comfortable being what we are. And we’re proud of what we are.”

The Killers ‘Battle Born’ is released Monday 17th September 2012.